What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WA
I recently went in to renew my driver's license and found out my license was suspended in 8/2011. Not knowing what this was about I called the court clerk. After, speaking with the clerk I do remember being pulled over for a headlight out. The officer never gave me a ticket. The problem is, I think I might have signed one. I remember the officer giving me my license and insurance card back. He started walking back to his car and I was a bit confused so yelled back to him asking if I was free to go and he said yes. I remember being a little confused, but I figured he decided not to give me a ticket. Since I haven't gotten a ticket in 20+yrs, I also thought maybe it was done differently now and I would get something in the mail. Nothing ever came so I never gave it a second thought.
So now I learn my license has been suspended for months and just recently received a dunning letter from a collection agency (for almost $900. Yikes!)
Well, I don't have $900 laying around just to pay to make this go away. I'm also a little ticked because I would have requested a court date to get it reduced if I had known I had actually been issued a ticket.
The clerk suggested I write the judge and ask him to recall this from the collection agency. I would also like a court date to explain the circumstances and work something out. Do you think that's possible? And is "I never actually got the ticket" a valid defense? How would I even prove that? Should I just beg for mercy instead? lol
I recently went in to renew my driver's license and found out my license was suspended in 8/2011. Not knowing what this was about I called the court clerk. After, speaking with the clerk I do remember being pulled over for a headlight out. The officer never gave me a ticket. The problem is, I think I might have signed one. I remember the officer giving me my license and insurance card back. He started walking back to his car and I was a bit confused so yelled back to him asking if I was free to go and he said yes. I remember being a little confused, but I figured he decided not to give me a ticket. Since I haven't gotten a ticket in 20+yrs, I also thought maybe it was done differently now and I would get something in the mail. Nothing ever came so I never gave it a second thought.
So now I learn my license has been suspended for months and just recently received a dunning letter from a collection agency (for almost $900. Yikes!)
Well, I don't have $900 laying around just to pay to make this go away. I'm also a little ticked because I would have requested a court date to get it reduced if I had known I had actually been issued a ticket.
The clerk suggested I write the judge and ask him to recall this from the collection agency. I would also like a court date to explain the circumstances and work something out. Do you think that's possible? And is "I never actually got the ticket" a valid defense? How would I even prove that? Should I just beg for mercy instead? lol